Fire-alarm switch



May 27, 1930. w, BURKE 1,759,887

FIRE ALARM SWITCH Filed Dec. 7, 1927 IN CASE OF FIRE BREAK GLASS PULL. HANDLE OVER Inventor fi /Z191! If 5 1/ p q B :74 w a Attornqy Patented May 27, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. BURKE, OF BRONX, NEW YORK FIRE-ALARM SWITCH Application filed December 7, 1927.

The present invention relates to a fire alarm for apartments, tenement houses and the like and has for its prime object to provide a structure which may be incorporated in connection with the usual doorbells used in the apartment house or tenement house, so that all of the doorbells throughout the house may be rung simultaneously and kept ring ing continuously to indicate fire.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, and thoroughly efiicient and reliable in use.

Vith the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description procecds, the invention resides in certain novel features construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be here inafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system showing the circuit closer box in section, and

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the box.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that numerals 5 and 6 denote electric conduits with branches 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 respectively leading therefrom. The branches 9 and 10 lead to a transformer 11 from which extends leads 12 and 13 having therein a switch structure 14. The lead 13 is connected. by distributing wires 15 to a plurality of doorbclls 16. The lead 12 is connected as at 17 with a plurality of leads 18 connected to the bells 16 and having push buttons 19 therein. It is customary to have one of the door bells 16 located in each apartment- While all the push buttons are located at the entrance of the building. The use and purposes of the apparatus thus far described is well known and needs no further reference.

The numeral 20 denotes a box of insulating material having in the bottom thereof a plurality of spring pressed contacts 21 and in the top thereof a glass panel 22. A conductor rod 23 extends longitudinally of the box and receives a contact slide 24 with aknob 25 on one end thereof so that by moving the slide Serial No. 238,376.

to one end of the casing it will be in a position to connect all of the contacts 21, electrically with the rod 23 whereas when in the position shown in Figure 1 that is at the other end of the casing this slide contact is out of engagement with the contacts 21. A hammer 26 is hung from the box by means of a chain 27 so that the glass panel may be broken when desired so that access may be had to the knob 25 for moving the slide into engagement with the contact 21. The numeral 28 denotes the transformer to which lead conduit branches 7 and 8. A lead 29 is disposed between the rod and the transformer 28 and a lead 30 is disposed between the transformer and the lead 13. A plurality of leads 31 are connected one with each of the leads 18 and these leads 31 are connected one each with the contact 21. It will therefore be seen that when the slide contact 24 engages the spring contact 21 all the apartment bells 16 will ring and continue ringing and this will. be a signal that a fire has occurred in the apartment house. This box 20 should preferably be located at some convenient point in the house such. as in the front vestibule or the like.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will now be clearly understood without a more detailed description thereof. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely by Way of example since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description. It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter to engage the push buttons in a progressive manner for closing all circuits, a glass panel in the top of the box, and means for breaking the glass panel so that access maybe had to 1 the slide.

In testimony whereof I mfix my signature.

WILLIAM J. BURKE. 

